The new musical “Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen” will offer an industry reading in New York City. Adapted from Moyoco Anno’s Japanese manga series of the same name, “Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen” features a book by Leah Nanako Winkler and a score by Tony Award winner Duncan Sheik.
Tony winner Rob Ashford will direct and choreograph the private reading of the musical on Feb. 20 and 21 at Gibney Dance. Or Matias will provide music direction, conducting and vocal/incidental music arrangement for the presentation, which is being produced by Kenny Kurokawa and Takeshi Tanaka; Tony nominee Antonio Marion is serving as executive producer.
Set in the 20th century, “Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen” follows Colette, who works in a brothel, and her ongoing, clandestine affair with client Leon. Anno’s story was originally serialized from 2013 to 2018 in the magazine “Feel Young.” The series earned Anno an Excellence Award at the Japan Media Arts Festival in 2020.
“‘Memoirs’ is a bold, sensual and innovative new work that pushes the boundaries of conventional musical theater,” said Marion, a Tony nominee for his work on the producing teams of “Groundhog Day” and revivals of “Betrayal” and “Evita.” “Duncan and Leah have expertly taken Moyoco Anno’s manga series and given it new life for the stage — all through the unparalleled direction and choreography of Rob Ashford.”
Ashford is one of a handful of choreographers who have received seven or more Tony nominations, winning in 2002 for “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Ashford received subsequent nods for the aforementioned “Evita,” as well as “The Wedding Singer,” “Curtains,” “Cry-Baby,” “Promises, Promises” and “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” the latter of which also earned him a Best Direction of a Musical nod. Ashford is slated to direct the upcoming Broadway mounting of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”
Sheik won dual Tonys for scoring and orchestrating 2006’s “Spring Awakening.” He was most recently represented on Broadway with “American Psycho.”
A recipient of the 2020 Steinberg Prize for Distinguished Playwrighting, Winkler is known for penning the plays “God Said This,” “Two Mile Hollow,” “Kentucky,” “Hot Asian Doctor Husband” and “The Brightest Thing in the World.” Winkler also wrote the book for the stage adaptation of “Crazy Rich Asians.”
Matias’ Broadway résumé comprises serving as musical director and conductor of “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” as well as music supervisor of “Grey House.”
“Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen” is being associate-produced by Nobu Matsukura, Shin Yamada, Yu Anne Ando, Ryohei Otani and Yumi. Bespoke Theatricals will serve as general manager.
